RS Aero Midland Championship at Staunton Harold Sailing Club
by Paul Williamson 27 Jul 2021 06:38 BST
24 July 2021
The forecast wind of 15 knots for the 2021 RS Aero Midland Championship held at Staunton Harold Sailing Club didn't disappoint and led to close racing throughout the day. The wind remained consistent and the gusts caused a few capsizes.
Visitors from 7 different Midland Clubs joined with 4 sailors from the home club. The event was kindly sponsored by Rooster and Selden and is one of 5 that form the Midland Mini Series.
Race officer Nigel Pepperdine set different courses for each of the 4 races, starting with a course that allowed two beats, followed by a windward leeward course, then two final courses giving chance for some exciting reaches.
David Peaty from Draycote made the best of the conditions to win overall sailing an Aero 5. David led in the early stages of 2 of the races and was always in the mix with the Aero 7s throughout the day. He was a worthy winner and is the Midland Champion for 2021 with 2 1st and a 2nd places to count. David's fellow club member Nigel Davies sailing an Aero 7 was second overall after working his way up to 5th in the first race having missed the start, he consolidated this with a 1st and 2 2nds to narrowly miss out on the top slot.
Staunton Harold Sailors filled the rest of the 5 prize slots with Graham Newton sailing his Aero 7 for only the third time finishing in third place. Graham retired from race 3 having sailed to the wrong windward mark but made no mistake with a win in the final race to add to his previous 2nd and 3rd places. John Blundell sailing with. 7 rig finished 4th with a 3rd and 2 4ths commenting that he should invest in a 5 rig. The final prize winner was Paul Williamson with a 5 rig counting 6, 4, 3.
Round 3 of the Midland Mini Series continues with the River Championship at Nottingham Sailing club on 14th August.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Rig | Sail No | Rating | Helm | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | RS AERO 5 | 2966 | 1136 | David Peaty | Draycote SC | 1 | 2 | 1 | ‑3 | 4 |
| 2nd | RS AERO 7 | 3201 | 1065 | Nigel Davies | Draycote Water SC | ‑5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 3rd | RS AERO 7 | 3799 | 1065 | Grahame Newton | SHSC | 2 | 3 | (DNF) | 1 | 6 |
| 4th | RS AERO 7 | 3687 | 1065 | John Blundell | SHSC | 3 | ‑5 | 4 | 4 | 11 |
| 5th | RS AERO 5 | 3439 | 1136 | Paul Williamson | SHSC | 6 | 4 | 3 | ‑7 | 13 |
| 6th | RS AERO 7 | 2004 | 1065 | Richard Adams | Combs SC | 4 | 7 | 7 | ‑12 | 18 |
| 7th | RS AERO 7 | 3676 | 1065 | Kent Martin | Ogston SC | 8 | ‑9 | 6 | 5 | 19 |
| 8th | RS AERO 7 | 2125 | 1065 | David Moore | Swarkestone SC | ‑9 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 19 |
| 9th | RS AERO 7 | 3011 | 1065 | Lawrence Hayward | SHSC | 7 | 6 | ‑10 | 8 | 21 |
| 10th | RS AERO 7 | 2184 | 1065 | Martin Hewitt | Notts County SC | 10 | 10 | 8 | ‑11 | 28 |
| 11th | RS AERO 7 | 2039 | 1065 | Karl Morley | Burton Sailing Club | ‑12 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 29 |
| 12th | RS AERO 7 | 3031 | 1065 | Paul Hemingway | Carsington SC | 11 | ‑12 | 11 | 10 | 32 |